Gate



i Jan.

GATE

Filed Oct. 14, 1964 G. M. ETNYRE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 HAMM( l* I4 |91 Jan. 3l, 1967 G. M. ETNYRE 3,300,398

GATE

Filed oct. 14, 1964 2 sheets-sheet 2 e Wm 6. 7. 9 N @A m. Mw d 8 @A United States Patent Office 3,300,898 Patented Jan. 31, 1967 3,300,898 GATE George M. Etnyre, Oregon, Ill. 61061 Filed Oct. 14, 1964, Ser. No. 403,717 3 Claims. (Cl. 49-193) This invention relates to gates mountable between two fence posts to close an opening through the fence and has for its primary object the provision of a novel gate of simple and inexpensive construction which may be opened quickly and easily from either end and swung into an open position and over obstructions on the ground with a minimum of effort.

Another object is to eliminate stress on the hinge at one end of the gate as the free end is lowered to the ground when the gate is open.

A further object is to reduce the effort necessary to hold the gate olf the ground as it is swung into the open position.

Still another object is to simplify the combined hinge and latch at each end of the gate.

Another object is to facilitate the replacement of boards of the gate that have been damaged in service use.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a fence equipped with a gate embodying the novel features of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic side elevation showing the gate of FIG. l in a different condition.

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 showing another condition of the gate.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken substantially along the line 4 4 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4 with the parts in moved positions.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along the line 6-6 of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of the hinge and latch structure at the left end of the gate in FIG. 1.

FIG. 8 is a view similar to a portion of FIG. 7 showing an alternate construction.

As shown in the drawings for purposes of illustration, the invention is embodied in a gate 10 mounted between two spaced fence posts 11 and 12 of a woven wire fence 13 (FIG. 1) and having at each end a combined hinge and latch 14 so that the gate may be unlatched and swung openfrom either end. The illustrative gate comprises generally a plurality of vertically spaced elongated members 15, preferably boards, disposed in a common plane to form the body of the gate and held together by upright frame members adjacent each end. Herein, the upright members are two pairs of metal bars 17 and 18 of right-angle cross-section disposed against opposite sides of the boards and secured together by bolts 19 projecting through the portions of the boards between the bars of each pair.

To form the combined hinge and latch 14 at each end of the gate, an upright rod 20 is fastened to the gate 10 in a position extending along and spaced from the gate end, and two vertically spaced hinge elements are secured to each fence post 11, 12 with holes in the hinge elements vertically alined to receive the opposite end portions of the rods 20 as shown most clearly in FIGS. 1 and 4. In this instance, each rod is fastened to the adjacent frame bars 17, 18 by means of two generally U-shaped metal straps 21 having laterally spaced legs straddling the end of the gate body and the two bars 17, 18. Two bolts 22 near the ends of these legs fasten the strips to the bars and thus to the gate body. The rod passes between the legs of both straps and is clamped therein by two additional bolts 23 (see FIG. 7) which draw the straps into tight frictional engagement with the rod.

Herein, the lower hinge element 24 is simply an eyebolt driven into the associated post 11, 12 well above the ground level, and the upper hinge element is a strap (see FIG. 6) bent around the upper end portion of the post. One end portion 25 of `the strap is bent into a U shape and projects toward the gate above the eyebolt, defining the upper hinge opening. The other end portion 27 of the strap projects away from the post along one side of the U-shaped portion and is secured thereto by a bolt 28 extending through three alined holes in the strap. This bolt not only clamps the strap around the post but also defines one side of the upper hinge opening.

It will be evident that both rods 20 and the .associated hinge elements cooperate to pivot the ends of the gate on the posts 11 and 12. Moreover, the lower strap 21 mounting the rod on the gate body is spaced above the lower end of the rod and normally rests on the eyebolt 24, while the upper strapv 21 is spaced below the upper hinge element a distance greater than the spacing of the lower strap from the lower end of the rod. Thus, each rod is movableupwardly relative to the hinge elements to lift its lower end out of the eyebolt as shown in FIG. 5. In the raised condition, the lower end portion of the rod may be swung outwardly to either side to one of the tilted positions indicated in FIG. 5, and then lowered to remove the upper end of the rod from the upper hinge element and unlatch the gate. Then the gate may be swung open about the axis defined by the other hinge.

In one of its aspects, the present invention contemplates a novel gate 10 which is more easily handled than prior gates of this general type and eliminates stress on the active hinge 14 as the free end of the gate is lowered to the ground when the gate is open. For these purposes, each of the boards 15 is pivotally connected to the upright bars 17, 18 to permit free vertical movement of one end of the gate relative to the other during unlatching of one end of the gate, during swinging of the gate between open .and closed positions, and as the free end of the gate is lowered to the ground when the gate is open. Thus, the gate may be lifted over obstructions during opening and closing, in the manner indicated in FIGS. 2 and 3.

The pivotal connections between the boards 15 and the bars 17, 18 are formed by the bolts 19 and 22, a single bolt being used at each end of each board. The nuts threaded onto the bolts are tightened suiiiciently to hold the bars snugly against the opposite sides of the boards without clamping the boards between the bars. As shown in FIG. 8, the bolts may be replaced by simple cotter keys 29 and washers 30. In both cases, replacement of a damaged board is accomplished simply and easily. by removing the two Cotter keys or bolts in the board, slipping the latter out from between the bars, and slipping a new board into its place.

It will be seen that the gate 10 is a basically rigid structure capable of a limited degree of twisting during latching and unlatching and of free vertical movement of the free end relative to the hinged end when the gate is unlatched. To reduce the tendency of the free end of the gate to drop to the ground, an elongated brace element in the form of two wires 31 and 32 connected to the opposite ends of a coiled extension spring 33 is provided adjacent each end of the gate. The lower ends of these braces are fastened to the lower board of the gate near the opposite ends of the latter and the upper ends are fastened to the upper board near the middle of the gate. Thus, these braces, which are taut when the gate is closed `and held in the rectangular configuration, extend diagonally of the free end portion of the gate to resist relative vertical movement of the ends of the gate, because such movement elongates the braces and stretches the springs 33. In other words, the braces reduce the weight of the free end portion of the gate by yieldably holding the free end portion against dropping to the ground.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that the gate is of relatively simple but sturdy construction and is capable of being opened quickly and easily from either end. Because of the pivotal connections between the boards and the end bars 17, 18, the free end portion of the gate pivots vertically to permit easy lifting of the gate over obstructions during opening. Moreover, the Vfree end portion may be lowered to the ground without applying excessive stress to the hinge when the gate is open, and the resiliently yieldable braces effectively reduce the weight of the free end as the gate is opened.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a gate mountable between two spaced posts, the combination of, a plurality of vertically spaced elongated and normally horizontal members disposed in a common plane and forming the body of said gate, an upright frame member at each end of said body generally perpendicular to and pivotally connected to said elongated members to maintain the latter in spaced relation in said plane while permitting vertical movement of said upright members relative to each other, a hinge at one end of said gate for pivotally connecting the upright member at said one end to one of said posts, a latch for connecting the upright member yat the other end of said gate to the other of said posts, said hinge and said latch both including an elongated upright rod extending along the adjacent end of said body in spaced relation with the adjacent upright member, upper and lower hinge elements mountable on the adjacent post and having vertically alined holes therein for rotatably and slidably receiving the opposite end portions of said rod, an upper connector securing each upright member to the adjacent rod for rotation therewith at a point spaced below the upper hinge element, and a lower connector securing each upright member to the adjacent rod for rotation therewith and being positioned to rest on the lower hinge element, the distance between the lower end of each rod and upper edges of the hole in the associated lower hinge element being less than the distance between the upper connector and the upper hinge element whereby either rod is movable upwardly relative to the hinge elements to slide its lower end out of the lower hinge element and unlatch either end of said gate.

2. A gate as defined in claim 1 further including a pair of elongated brace elements each including a resiliently yieldable tension spring intermediate its ends, said brace elements being secured at their lower ends to said body adjacent opposite lower corners thereof and extending diagonally upwardly toward each other from said corners and across said body in a taut condition, the upper ends of said brace elements being secured t0 said body intermediate the ends thereof and near the upper edge to urge said elongated members yieldably toward horizontal positions when the gate is unlatched.

' 3.. In a gate mountable between two spaced posts, the combination of, a plurality of vertically spaced elongated and normally horizontal members disposed in a common plane and forming the body of said gate, an upright frame member at each end of said body generally perpendicular to and pivotally connected to said elongated members to maintain the latter in spaced relation in said plane while permitting vertical movement of said upright members relative to each other, a hinge at one end of said gate for pivotally connecting the upright member at said one end to one of said posts, a latch for connecting the upright member at the other end of said gate to the other of said posts, said hinge and said latch both including an elongated upright rod extending along the adjacent end of said body in spaced relation with the adjacent upright member, upper and lower hinge elements mountable on the adjacent post and having vertically alined holes therein for slidably receiving the opposite end portions of said rod, an upper connector securing each upright member to the adjacent rod at a point spaced below the upper hinge element, and a lower connector securing each upright member to the adjacent rod, the distance between the lower end of each rod and upper edges of the hole in the associated lower hinge element being less than the distance between the upper connector and the upper hinge element whereby either rod is movable upwardly relative to the hinge elements to slide its lower end out of the lower hinge element and unlatch either end of said gate.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 763,499 6/1904 Mills 39-84 X 795,5 39 7/ 1905 Parmelee. 1,214,623 2/1917 Weber 39-87 2,676,426 4/ 1954 Olsen 39-22 2,822,630 2/1958 Guyer 39-87 X HARRISON R. MOSELEY, Primary Examiner.

D. L. TAYLOR, Assistant Examiner. 

3. IN A GATE MOUNTABLE BETWEEN TWO SPACED POSTS, THE COMBINATION OF, A PLURALITY OF VERTICALLY SPACED ELONGATED AND NORMALLY HORIZONTAL MEMBERS DISPOSED IN A COMMON PLANE AND FORMING THE BODY OF SAID GATE, AN UPRIGHT FRAME MEMBER AT EACH END OF SAID BODY GENERALLY PERPENDICULAR TO AND PIVOTALLY CONNECTED TO SAID ELONGATED MEMBERS TO MAINTAIN THE LATTER IN SPACED RELATION IN SAID PLANE WHILE PERMITTING VERTICAL MOVEMENT OF SAID UPRIGHT MEMBERS RELATIVE TO EACH OTHER, A HINGE AT ONE END OF SAID GATE FOR PIVOTALLY CONNECTING THE UPRIGHT MEMBER AT SAID ONE END TO ONE OF SAID POSTS, A LATCH FOR CONNECTING THE UPRIGHT MEMBER AT THE OTHER END OF SAID GATE TO THE OTHER OF SAID POSTS, SAID HINGE AND SAID LATCH BOTH INCLUDING AN ELONGATED UPRIGHT ROD EXTENDING ALONG THE ADJACENT END OF SAID BODY IN SPACED RELATION WITH THE ADJACENT UPRIGHT MEMBER, UPPER AND LOWER HINGE ELEMENTS MOUNTABLE ON THE ADJACENT POST AND HAVING VERTICALLY ALINED HOLES THEREIN FOR SLIDABLY RECEIVING THE OPPOSITE END PORTIONS OF SAID ROD, AN UPPER CONNECTOR SECURING EACH UPRIGHT MEMBER TO THE ADJACENT ROD AT A POINT SPACED BELOW THE UPPER HINGE ELEMENT, AND A LOWER CONNECTOR SECURING EACH UPRIGHT MEMBER TO THE ADJACENT ROD, THE DISTANCE BETWEEN THE LOWER END OF EACH ROD AND UPPER EDGES OF THE HOLE IN THE ASSOCIATED LOWER HINGE ELEMENT BEING LESS THAN THE DISTANCE BETWEEN THE UPPER CONNECTOR AND THE UPPER HINGE ELEMENT WHEREBY EITHER ROD IS MOVABLE UPWARDLY RELATIVE TO THE HINGE ELEMENTS TO SLIDE ITS LOWER END OUT OF THE LOWER HINGE ELEMENT AND UNLATCH EITHER END OF SAID GATE. 